More Details Released In Arrest Of Suspect In Carina Saunders' Murder

Friday, July 6th 2012, 5:39 PM CDT

Updated:

Friday, July 6th 2012, 5:40 PM CDT

By Lisa Monahan

OKLAHOMA CITY -
It's the first murder arrest since police found Saunders' remains in a duffel bag last October. We were the first to tell you police arrested Carina Saunders' alleged killer. Now we are uncovering more information about what led investigators to this new break in the case.

Three days before police discovered Carina Saunders' dismembered body in this field last October, Oklahoma City police arrested Luis Ruiz, the same man they would arrest again on Thursday.

News 9 is learning detectives began looking at Ruiz "early on" in the investigation, but only last week, nearly nine months after the murder, did another witness give new information to police that helped investigators get a warrant to arrest Ruiz for Carina Saunders' murder.

News9 also discovered the new information from the witness allowed Bethany Police to have the arrest warrant in hand, several days before Ruiz committed another crime at a Sears department store. When Ruiz attempted to steal clothes in southwest Oklahoma City on Thursday, a security guard held him until officers arrived.

Ruiz's criminal history extends to three states and covers everything from stolen property to stolen cars, and drug related offenses considered similar to the activity police believe led to the murder of Carina Saunders.

Investigators previously reported the violent killing was meant to scare witnesses to cooperate with a drug and human trafficking ring.

Investigators and prosecutors are staying tight-lipped about the new information that's becoming available, and working to seal several court documents that would give more details surrounding the recent arrest.

The four other men arrested in connection with Saunders murder are being held on drug related charges. They are not charged with the murder.

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